Who in their right mind would buy a Blu-ray player right now?

[sjy1969]

Originally Posted by gandley

seems like more and more are running with this kind of topic

Blu-Ray sales tank for good reasons

http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquir...es-tank-reason

That guy Demerjian is a notorious Sony hater. Anything on the subject is guaranteed to degenerate into a rant on "Rootkit" or "DRM Infection". I try to avoid reading anything by him whenever possible.

That being said though, it's just as well the PS3 is keeping Blu-ray on an upward path. If people don't care about extras as many on here insist, then why hold off buying a standalone if a PS3 is not what you want?

[PaulGo]

I think the problem is the manufactures want to get rid of the older players before they release the new players. They are afraid to cut the prices of the older players until they can ramp up production of the newer players. The newer players will replace the older ones at the same or slightly lower price point (for now) and then the remaining older players will be discounted. After they get rid of the older players they will then lower the prices of the newer players. I expect by November most of you new Blu-ray players will be selling for well under $300 and probably some new models will be selling for under $200.

It may sound crazy but this is the way most manufacturers think. A lot of people see a perceived value in higher price electronics. This is traditionally the slow season so cutting the price now will not really increase sales much. However you will probably see a lot of sales and promotions in the fall.

[gandley]

Originally Posted by sjy1969

. If people don't care about extras as many on here insist, then why hold off buying a standalone if a PS3 is not what you want?

Same reason as people will buy a two disc dvd version over a 1 disc version, they like to get the most for there money even thou they may never look at those extras. theres also the resale value to consider, its easier to resale a fully featured disc set or player as opposed to a basic model.

theres always that chance that just one day, one may want to check out some feature that they thought they would never use.

Nothing wrong in waiting fully specced players, if your going to lay down your hard earnt, then getting the best bang for buck is the way to go, more so when these new players have more features and are coming in cheaper all the time.

[PaulGo]

Disney: Blu-ray Needs Lower Player Prices
The company executives say $300 players are coming soon.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (May 7, 2008) -- Disney's top executives yesterday said that Blu-ray high-def disc player sales will begin to rise when prices start to fall.

In an investors call yesterday following the company's first quarter report, Disney CEO Robert Iger said the penetration of Blu-ray players is still "relatively modest." (Industry reports indicate that fewer than 10 million U.S. homes now have Blu-ray players, even when you include the Play Station 3, which has a Blu-ray player inside.)

But Iger added that the company sees Blu-ray "growing nicely, particularly as the cost of the players comes down."

The lowest-priced Blu-ray player is now $399, but Iger said "you'll be seeing a lot more $300 (players) and less inventory in terms of player costs of the shelves."

He added: "The real impact from Blu-ray will be felt down the road...We're believers because of the quality of the experience but it is going to take some time for the platform to penetrate the marketplace."

Blu-ray makers were offering some players in the $300 range during the 2007 holidays when the high-def format war against HD DVD was ongoing. However, after Toshiba pulled the plug on HD DVD, the companies raised Blu-ray entry-level prices back to $399.

Disney CFO Thomas Staggs predicted yesterday that Blu-ray will start to have a serious impact on studio revenues after the 2008 holidays. The company plans to release several blockbuster movies on Blu-ray this year, including Nemo and Sleeping Beauty.

"Overall, total (Blu-ray disc sales) are going to be probably more in the low-single-digit range because less Blu-Ray (is) on catalog sales right now but...we think that’s going to continue to grow and especially as you get passed the next holiday season, it can be a more important component of the whole thing," Staggs said.

Iger hinted that Blu-ray disc prices, which now are $5-10 more than standard-def DVDs, could come down as more people buy players.

"The cost of the Blu-Ray DVD in the market or on the shelf to the consumer is running a few dollars higher (than standard-def DVDs) and that obviously bodes well for us, although as it penetrates the market, we’ll see whether the pricing comes down," he said.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/disneyblu050708.htm

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

If I had the money to buy a new BD-Player, I would go buy one right now since I sold my PS3 last month due to stupid bills. I will buy one again and keep it until it dies when I get back on my feet again.

[Blu-ray Fanatic]

I also had to sell my BD movies which sucked even harder. I just wish I was rich so that I don't have to worry about selling my things just to pay the bills. Damn you parents! Why couldn't you own a car dealership, beer company,etc..........and I'll just brag and brag and brag.

[PaulGo]

Consumers Cold To Blu-Ray Players

Only 9% of non-Blu-ray player owners say they are likely to buy a Blu-ray disc player within the next year, according to a Harris Interactive survey.

By Antone Gonsalves, InformationWeek
May 14, 2008
http://www.informationweek.com/story...leID=207800191

The high-definition DVD format war is over, but U.S. consumers remain unenthusiastic toward players supporting the winner Blu-ray, a survey showed.

Nearly seven in 10 people polled by Harris Interactive knew that Blu-ray had beaten HD DVD, and nearly a quarter of them said they had been waiting for the rivalry to play itself out before buying an HD player. By April, however, few of the respondents had actually bought a player.

Based on an online poll of more than 2,500 U.S. adults, Harris found that nearly nine in 10 people own a standard DVD player, but fewer than one in 10 reported owning devices available today for playing HD content, namely, HD DVD or Blu-ray disc players, Sony PlayStation 3, and the external HD DVD player for Microsoft's Xbox 360. These numbers are surprising, given that more than a third of consumers overall report owning an HDTV.

Furthermore, only 9% of non-Blu-ray player owners say they are likely to buy a Blu-ray disc player within the next year, even when they are made fully aware that the format is the definitive technology for players of HD content going forward, Harris found. Notably, the percentage of HDTV owners likely to buy Blu-ray players is only slightly higher at 14%. Currently, about 10% of HDTV owners also have a Blu-ray disc player.

Price could be a contributor to the lackluster response to Blu-ray. While players of the format still average above $300, standard players only cost between $80 and $150, which include an up-converter to generate a higher quality picture that older standard players.

There's also the consideration of being able to download HD videos. "While this is likely to catch on more with the technophiles than with the mass market due to the complexity of downloading, it does provide another alternative," Joan Barten Kline, VP of Harris media and entertainment practice, said in a statement released Tuesday.

Sony-backed Blu-ray won the format war after Toshiba said this year it would no longer lead the HD DVD camp, and discontinued making HD DVD players and recorders. The company had sold 1 million players and recorders worldwide, including sales for drives for Microsoft's Xbox 360

[Bullseye]

At this stage there is absolutely no excuses for not releasing Profile 2.0 players now. I cannot understand Pioneer releasing Profile 1.1 players now. Its mindboggling.

[dadkins]

Just to add...
I went out and bought another Sony VAIO and yes! It plays Blu-ray Discs.

So, I now have 2 VAIOs with Blu-ray playback.

[Rustmonsteru]

I love the PS3 but I'm really sick of accidentally turning it on when the remote gets sat on . I'll probably pick up the Panny 50 in the next few months.

[Entertainment72]

P S 3 makes articles such as that irrelevant and moot. Imagine that.. a BD player I purchase December of 2006 as current and viable as possible.

If I knew then what I know now.. I would have paid $1000 for it.

[Elandyll]

With the reviews I keep seeing, the BD1500 is shaping up to be a great entry level/ mid range player.
That's where we need the most competition, hopefully the future Sharp player will be in there.
BD1500 / S350 and BDH50 should all be around $300 or less by Xmas, for the sake of the Blu Ray format
(and all updated to the 2.0 profile).

Imo by end of year we will see:
Magnavox/Funai/Sylvania, Sigmatek & Daewoo: $199
Sharp player : $245. Sony S350 & Samsung BD1500: $299.
Sony S550 & Panny BD50: $449.
Pioneer & Denon: who knows, they sell their high end units at almost any price

[Marine Mike]

Originally Posted by Rustmonsteru

I love the PS3 but I'm really sick of accidentally turning it on when the remote gets sat on . I'll probably pick up the Panny 50 in the next few months.

+1 This happens atleast 3 times a week in my household.

[PaulGo]

Originally Posted by Rustmonsteru

I love the PS3 but I'm really sick of accidentally turning it on when the remote gets sat on . I'll probably pick up the Panny 50 in the next few months.

Suggestion to Sony - put in an option in the menu to select if you want the PS3 turned on by any key or just the PS button.

[davcole]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

With the reviews I keep seeing, the BD1500 is shaping up to be a great entry level/ mid range player.
That's where we need the most competition, hopefully the future Sharp player will be in there.
BD1500 / S350 and BDH50 should all be around $300 or less by Xmas, for the sake of the Blu Ray format
(and all updated to the 2.0 profile).

Imo by end of year we will see:
Magnavox/Funai/Sylvania, Sigmatek & Daewoo: $199
Sharp player : $245. Sony S350 & Samsung BD1500: $299.
Sony S550 & Panny BD50: $449.
Pioneer & Denon: who knows, they sell their high end units at almost any price

I think that's the key, to get Profile 1.1 players upgradable to 2.0 out at a lower price like the Samsung. After a few mis-steps marketing-wise, I see this as a solid step advancing the industry.

It will be interesting to see the consumer response to those new sub- $300 players coming on the market?

[dialog_gvf]

Only 9% of non-Blu-ray player owners say they are likely to buy a Blu-ray disc player within the next year, according to a Harris Interactive survey.

3% of people own one now. Add 8.73% (9% of the 97%) in a year and that would be bad? That would be nearly 4x as many!

It seems reporters are either incapable of understanding percentages or are deliberately trying to lead people to conclusions.

Gary

[savage1984]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

3% of people own one now. Add 8.73% (9% of the 97%) in a year and that would be bad? That would be nearly 4x as many!

It seems reporters are either incapable of understanding percentages or are deliberately trying to lead people to conclusions.

Gary

I think statement two is the more accurate one. reporters love FUD....

[Anthony P]

It seems reporters are either incapable of understanding percentages or are deliberately trying to lead people to conclusions.

lol, that was exactly what I was thinking (how can anyone not realize 9% is extremely good). Plus there is the fact that 9% are planning to buy a player a year, who makes plans like that a year in advance. We don’t know about the other 91% and I am sure that 9% is most likely not thinking they will buy one in 11 months.

[gearyt]

Let's add "impluse" buying and "salesmanship" to the math..

[Mr. Joshua]

Originally Posted by cajmoyper

I can understand what he's saying. But then again, the consumer really isn't that smart. We here on the boards are the ones who really care about things like audio codecs and BD-live.

The everyday average Joe is still watching movies on either a 4:3 tube or 4:3 projection and thinks that DVD looks awesome when you can buy most any movie for $5 at Wal-Mart... Only true aficionados of home theater have a sweet LCD or plasma with a PS3 enjoying movies in glorious blu-ray HD...